Ashley Emmel, M.S.W., LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker
You deserve this support and you're stronger than you realize. Sometimes, it just takes additional reinforcement to help us remember who we are. Going through my life's experiences is what brought me to a career in counseling. These circumstances give me perspective, motive, empathy, and courage to walk through the hardships with you. You and I will work on strategies that allow you to address the root causes of your difficulties and work to build a healthier and more stable present and future. I believe in using our past, to help create a better today, through Insight Oriented therapy. It might be hard, uncomfortable, or seem useless but the examination of issues that have negatively affected your life will help you to understand and change destructive patterns. Understanding your feelings and behaviors allows you to replace old patterns with new and healthier ones--allowing you to move forward.
Relationships can be wonderfully fulfilling. However, in a world where we thrive off of immediate gratification, it is easy to want to quit when things are difficult. When we bring our past life experiences, traumas, unconscious and conscious expectations into a relationship on top of our daily distractions, these same fulfilling relationships can become draining. Our love, admiration, and respect for our partner can diminish. Sometimes an added support system can help a couple understand one another on a deeper level, enabling them to get past those difficult times.
In addition to working with adults and couples, I love working with teens. Working with teenagers has its own unique set of challenges. Many times, youth are left feeling unheard and misunderstood. As an adult, it is easy to fall into the trap of "I have been there before" when talking to our teens. Deep listening focuses on the conversation in the moment and what they're experiencing. Truly leaning into what the client is saying and being faced with allows space for a trusting therapeutic relationship to form. Helping adolescents navigate the uncertain, fun, and challenging transition into becoming individuals and adults is a passion of mine. These years are formative and sometimes additional support during this life transition can help families function more smoothly.
When I am not in session, I am usually hauling my children to school, dance, soccer, or Taekwondo. I have 3 children, a husband of 10 years, and an extremely stubborn English bulldog. I'm a proud LSU tiger and enjoy attending LSU football games when the opportunity strikes. I enjoy time away with my husband, concerts, traveling, hunting, and anything new and adventurous.
Ashley Emmel, M.S.W., LMSW, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Louisiana State University and her Master of Social Work from the CSWE accredited program at Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio. She works under the supervision of Dr. Dawn Milam-Reed, PhD., LCSW-S founder of Elysian Counseling & Education, LLC. Her experience in the mental health field includes, experience in crisis intervention, community outreach programs, intensive outpatient treatment and partial hospitalization programs. In addition, she is Level 1 trained in Gottman Couples Therapy. She specializes in couples, adult, and teen counseling, focusing primarily on Insight Oriented/Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. However, her main goal is to meet the client where they’re at and alter her approach to fit the needs of the client.
Ashley Emmel, M.S.W., LMSW
LMSW License # 104941
$185 Individual Counseling Appointment
$195 Couples and Family Counseling Session
